Plans for third bookmakers in Normanton street leads to 1,200-name petition

CAMPAIGNERS battling plans for the opening of a third bookmaker’s in one Normanton street have put together a 1,200-name petition against the plan.

But Derby City Council says it cannot take into account the signatures against Paddy Power being granted a licence.

The authority said the petition was considered, along with all other representations, by its officers but the issues it raised were not “considered as relevant under the Gambling Act and government guidance”.

Campaigners had claimed the new bookmaker’s would stop people going to local family businesses, attract “unsociable attention” and that fixed-odds betting terminals on the premises would be addictive.

Council leader Paul Bayliss has cited the Normanton Road application as an example in calling for a halt in the growing number of betting shops in Derby.

Nazir Hussain, of Rosehill Street, Normanton, handed in the petition to the council.

He said: “It seems to have been brushed under the carpet. They [the council] hasn’t been in touch with us about what’s happened at all. The petition was the voice of the people around here.”

The petition states there are two bookmakers already on Normanton Road – William Hill and Ladbrokes.

It says: “Arboretum’s Asian population is about 41% and there are also many people from Eastern Europe and elsewhere outside the UK. Many of these people do not read or understand English well, and may not fully understand the odds of losing on fixed-odds betting terminals.”

A council statement said Paddy Power had “not needed to apply for change of use (from a restaurant to a betting shop) as this is classed as permitted development”.

It added: “The closing date for representations about this licensing application was March 13.

“No relevant representations (as defined by the Gambling Act and government guidance) were received so the application was approved. The licence will be issued to the applicant this week.”

Mr Bayliss had previously said of Paddy Power opening: “The council has no planning powers to prevent the change of use to a betting shop. I feel strongly that the views of local people should be considered. It cannot be right that betting shops can set up wherever they choose without restriction and this cannot be good for the local economy or the wider community.”

7 comments

Would all these comments be the same if the community in Alvaston objected to yet another bookies? Or perhaps Chaddesden? http://tinyurl.com/nufwjra
Oh look, those comments were different, DET commentators were concerned about the impact it would have in the community, but in Normanton that doesn't seem to be the case?
Utter racism from some of the commentators below.

If that much of the population will not gamble because of religious beliefs, and the rest of the population is against having another betting shop
It won't get any business will it, and soon close down
So the problem is what exactly?

" QUOTE" It says: "Arboretum's Asian population is about 41% and there are also many people from Eastern Europe and elsewhere outside the UK. Many of these people do not read or understand English well, and may not fully understand the odds of losing on fixed-odds betting terminals." "UNQUOTE"
What are these people doing here then if the do not read or understand english?